Random Thoughts

Banning Coffee Didn't Make The French Less French

Legislation to restrict guns is a lot like legislation to restrict abortion- it's a tough sell at the federal level because of that pesky Constitution so it requires a friendly court and and a lot of lawyers. States, of course, can do it more easily. ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Feb 17 2026 - 9:41am

If You Don't Like Math, Blame Pollen

Epidemiologists say that pollen can cause worse outcomes for students in math, chemistry and physics. Allergic rhinitis, an allergic reaction to things such as dust, pet hair, and pollen, is common. Epidemiologists link that to cardiovascular health and ev ...

Article - News Staff - Mar 5 2026 - 4:30am

Travel With Two Infants

The other day I traveled with Kalliopi and our two newborns to Padova from Lulea. After six full months in Lapland- a full autumn and winter, in fact- I needed to get back to my original office, and take care of other business at what has become my second ...

Article - Tommaso Dorigo - Mar 21 2026 - 12:54pm

No Danger, How A Stranger Can Be A Game Changer- A New Book About Making 'Small' Talk

The future career arc for my house is a library bed-and-breakfast. It will be just like it sounds; every bedroom is also a library, as is the house. Except not a government library, with sterile walls and floors that echo, the whole thing will be comfortab ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Mar 23 2026 - 11:39am

A Chess Study Requiring Backpropagation

The following position is a win for white. But how? It seems like white is able to grab a knight for free. However, that would be not a wise idea, as the c4 pawn would then be free to run down to become a queen. You can easily convince yourself that 1.Nxd8 ...

Article - Tommaso Dorigo - Apr 12 2026 - 8:11am

Tangential Science: Redheads, Sex Parties And The World's First Astronomers

Tangential Science: it's not necessarily science, but it's still funny. 1.  You've all heard that blondes have more fun.   There is even a recurring urban legend that they are becoming extinct, which seems like an effort to get them to have ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Apr 16 2026 - 11:16pm

Environmentalists, What Are You Asking From Dedmoroz Lenin For Earth Day This Year?

Tomorrow is Earth Day. It is also Lenin's birthday.  That's not coincidence. The leader of the first Earth Day was not a politician, as the movement has greenwashed Democratic U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson into being, yet credible journalists and a ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Apr 22 2026 - 6:09pm

Best Science Writers of 2014

How deep is science writing these days? Pretty darn deep. Way back when Science 2.0 started there were not a lot of great science writers. There were well-known ones, but not great ones. Journalism was in flux and mainstream media didn't respect it m ...

Blog Post - Hank Campbell - Apr 24 2026 - 11:17am